The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) cleared "Tottho Apa: Empowerment of women through ICT to build Digital Bangladesh" project (2nd phase) involving a cost of Tk 544.91crore.

The approval came from an ECNEC meeting held at the NEC conference room in the city with ECNEDC Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

Under this project, BTCL will set up information centre in 490 upazilas with a view to empowering women through ICT, said planning minister AHM Mustafa Kamal while briefing journalists after the meeting.

He said the ECNEC approved a total eight projects involving a total cost of Tk 2,723.61 crore. Of the total cost, Tk 1,929.97 crore will come from the government exchequer while Tk 793.64 crore the own fund of the organizations concerned, he added.

Of the approved projects, six are new while two are revised ones.

Other projects are conversion of 150MW Sylhet gas turbine power plant to 225MW cobined cycle power plant (Tk 796.63 crore), construction of labour welfare complex at Ghagra for expansion of welfare and skills development activities for the workers in hill tract areas (Tk 65 crore), expansion and development of important regional highways (Chittagong zone) (Tk 436 crore), development of Netrokona Bisiura-Ishwarganj road (Tk 261 crore), expansion of Langalband-Kaikartek-Nabiganj highway (from Langalband to Minarbari) (Tk 121.57 crore), construction of infrastructure for Bangladesh Institute of Research and Training on Applied Nutrition (BIRTAN) (Tk 332.12 crore) and production, preservation and distribution of quality seeds of pulses, oil and spices at farmers level (3rd phase) (Tk165.26 crore).

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